Patents Assigned to KRONES
  • Patent number: 11742642
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cable fixing device for a container handling system and to a method for setting a minimum bending radius for a connecting cable of a container handling system. The cable fixing device comprises a main body, a cable guide which is arranged around a part of the main body, and a cover for covering an end of the cable guide in such a way that a connecting cable, which is pre-assembled with plug-in devices at both ends, can be introduced between the cover and the cable guide. The cable guide is configured at its other end for fixing of the connecting cable in such a way that a looping angle of the cable fixing device and connecting cable can be set variably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Joerg Triebel, Reinhard Ortner, Robert Scheibenpflug
  • Patent number: 11708226
    Abstract: A method for format adaptation of carriages for the transportation of bottles on a linear motor system and a corresponding linear motor system are described. According thereto, container guides provided on the carriages are adapted to the body cross-section of the bottles by adjusting a guide width in an automated manner between guide jaws of the container guides which in relation to the direction of travel are the leading and trailing ones. There is then no need to replace component parts at the container guides, and the production in filling systems is optimised in terms of staff requirements, resultant production stoppages, and error sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Michael Neubauer, Stefan Poeschl, Bruno Landler, Wolfgang Roidl
  • Patent number: 11702332
    Abstract: A filling valve for filling a container with a filling product, e.g., a beverage in a beverage filling system, includes a valve base body. The valve base body includes an outlet configured to discharge the filling product into the container; a swirl chamber configured to receive the filling product and is able to be brought into a fluidic connection with the outlet; and a main inlet, which feeds into the swirl chamber and is configured to introduce at least one main component of the filling product into the swirl chamber such that the filling product is swirled in the swirl chamber, whereby after exiting from the outlet the filling product flows downwardly in a spiral movement in the container. The swirl chamber has an annular shape, the cross-sectional contour thereof having a rounded shape, substantially without corner points, in the direction of extent and perpendicular to the direction of extent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Valentin Becher, Benedikt Hengl, Josef Doblinger, Anton Huber, Hubert Auer, Stefan Poeschl
  • Patent number: 11702328
    Abstract: An apparatus for filling a vessel with a multicomponent filling product includes a filler having at least one filling unit set up to introduce the filling product into the vessel, and a filler tank set up for intermediate buffering of the filling product and in fluid connection with the filling unit via a product conduit to supply the filling unit with the filling product; and a mixer set up to blend the filling product from at least two filling product components, wherein the mixer has a circulation conduit; and the mixer has at least one dosage branch set up to introduce one filling product component into the circulation conduit, wherein the mixer has a heat exchanger set up to adjust the temperature of the filling product in the circulation conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Thomas Oehmichen, Christina Laumer, Johanna Justl, Frank Winzinger, Stefan Hoeller, Erwin Engel, Christoph Mieko, Holger Mueller
  • Patent number: 11697518
    Abstract: A device (1) handling articles comprises at least one work module (30), which can move packages with article placed on a first packaging type and at least one folding mechanism (45) used to erect back and/or front flaps of the first packaging type. Another component of the device (1) is at least one transport module (20), with a transport device (2), along which articles intended for packages of a second packaging type move, where the second packaging type differs from the first packaging type. The at least one folding mechanism (45) and the transport device (2) alternate between an operating position (BP) and a waiting position (WP). The operating positions (BP) and the waiting positions (WP) are configured such that the at least one folding mechanism (45) is disposed exclusively adjacent to the right side or to the left side of the transport means (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Krones Ag
    Inventors: Juergen Werner, Herbert Spindler, Johann Luber, Stephan Wittmann
  • Patent number: 11691862
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating a container with a treatment fluid, for example in a beverage bottling plant, including: at least one treatment member with a switchable treatment valve, wherein the treatment member is configured to treat the container with the treatment fluid by opening the treatment valve and to end the treatment by closing the treatment valve; at least one motion sensor which is configured to detect a movement of the treatment member or a component that is mechanically coupled to the treatment member during switching of the treatment valve; and an electronic evaluation unit which is coupled in a communicating manner to the motion sensor and is configured to draw conclusions about the switching behavior of the treatment valve from processing the data that is detected by the motion sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Stefan Poeschl
  • Patent number: 11685100
    Abstract: A method for carrying out a changeover process in a system for producing beverage containers is provided. This system in operation produces plastic containers from plastic parisons by a transforming device and these produced containers are transported to a filling device and the containers are filled with a liquid and in particular a beverage, wherein the liquid is introduced into the container at a temperature of over 50° C., wherein at least the transforming device and the filling device are at least intermittently in data communication with one another and for carrying out the changeover process of at least the transforming device or the filling device a value is output and/or used which is characteristic for a changeover status of this transforming device or this filling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Hahn
  • Patent number: 11655132
    Abstract: An apparatus for filling containers with a filling product, for example in a beverage bottling plant, includes a plurality of filling members, which respectively have a filling product line for feeding the filling products into an appropriate container; and at least one distribution line, to which the filling product lines of the plurality of filling members are linked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Stefan Poeschl
  • Patent number: 11648725
    Abstract: Provided is a method for heating plastic preforms, wherein the plastic parison are transported along a predetermined transport path and are heated during this transport, wherein at least one first heating section with at least one first heating element as well as at least one second heating section with at least one second heating element is arranged along the transport path, by a first temperature measuring device an actual temperature of the plastic preforms is measured in or before a start region of the transport path, and as a function of this actual temperature of the plastic preforms the at least one first heating element is controlled in such a way that the plastic preforms reach a predetermined target temperature after heating by this at least one first heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Dieter Finger, Thomas Kitzinger
  • Patent number: 11641793
    Abstract: A mowing machine has a cutterbar oriented transverse to a travel and working direction of the mowing machine and provided with first and second ends spaced apart from each other in longitudinal direction. First cutting members are rotatably mounted on a top side of the cutterbar and rotatably driven about a vertical axis by a drive assembly within the cutterbar. A joint and drive assembly is connected to the first end of the cutterbar. A lateral cutterbar section is connected to the joint and drive assembly and has a second cutting member driven by the joint and drive assembly. The joint and drive assembly has first and second holding elements mounted relative to each other such that pivoting of the lateral cutterbar section in a cutterbar plane of the cutterbar is enabled. The first and second holding elements are arranged in planes positioned at a minimal spacing above each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Bernard Krone GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jens Lömker, Hendrik Grothe
  • Patent number: 11642828
    Abstract: Provided is a device for forming plastic preforms into plastic containers, having a feed device for feeding the plastic preforms to the device, at least one first preform store, a multiplicity of plastic preforms being arranged unsorted in the preform store, and having an alignment device for bringing the plastic preforms into a predetermined position before feeding them to the device. The device includes at least a second preform store, wherein a plurality of plastic preforms of exactly one production batch can be accommodated in each preform store.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Lappe, Jochen Hirdina, Robert Aust
  • Patent number: 11643316
    Abstract: Machine (1) for distributing flowable media to containers with a housing (2), with a transport device (12) for transporting the containers (10) which is arranged at least partially inside the housing (2), wherein this transport device has a rotatable carrier (14) with a distributor device (4) which is arranged inside this housing (2) an accommodates at least one inlet (42) for the flowable medium and a plurality of outlets (44) to which the flowable medium can be distributed, and with a supply conduit (6) which is suitable and intended for supplying the flowable medium to the inlet (42). According to the invention the distributor device (4) is non-rotatably connected to the carrier (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Juergen Soellner, Waldemar Suppes, Florian Geltinger, Thomas Hoellriegl, Andreas Brunner
  • Patent number: 11643282
    Abstract: A method and a device for buffering containers grouped in a single row in a filling system are described. For this purpose, the containers are entered into storage on at least one infeed conveyor belt in the infeed direction, moved in a single row onto a transversely adjoining buffer area by rail-guided and individually driven shuttles with row pushers in a buffering direction running transverse to the infeed direction, and are removed from storage on at least one outfeed conveyor belt transversely adjoining in the buffering direction. Due to the fact that the row pushers receive the containers in a single row in a guide channel formed/defined by an anterior row guide leading in the buffering direction and by a trailing posterior row guide, the groups of containers can be moved in the buffering direction and positioned precisely, quickly and secured against falling over without back pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Alexander Demel, Christian Holzer, Franz Lautenschlager, Christian Richter, Konrad Senn, Peter Muehlstein, Torsten Kilgenstein, Helmut Schuesslburner
  • Patent number: 11639269
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for transporting objects and in particular containers and/or liquid containers with a first conveyor device which is arranged at least temporarily below the objects to be conveyed and which conveys the objects, wherein the conveyor device includes a point device, and a feed section which conveys the objects to the point device, and wherein the objects are selectively conveyable along at least a first discharge section and a second discharge section by the point device, wherein the feed section extends substantially rectilinearly and wherein the first discharge section follows the feed section in a rectilinear manner and the second discharge section deviates from the rectilinear course of the feed section, and wherein the apparatus includes a selection tool for selectively conveying the objects onto the first discharge section or the second discharge section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Miriam Hartwig, Tobias Puerzer, Thomas Lehner
  • Patent number: 11628965
    Abstract: A labeling device and a method for applying labels to containers comprising an unwinding unit for receiving thereon at least one supply roll with a label tape; having an intermediate buffer unit for temporarily storing the label tape unwound from the supply roll, the intermediate buffer unit comprising at least one first movable roller unit; a drive unit arranged downstream of the intermediate buffer unit when seen in the conveying direction and used for driving the label tape in the conveying direction and processing unit for separating the label tape into the individual labels and for optionally coating the labels with glue and for transferring the labels to the containers wherein the intermediate buffer unit and the drive unit have arranged between them a separately configured, dynamic buffer unit comprising at least one second roller unit which is movable independently of the intermediate buffer unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Johannes Strauss, Christian Holzer, Bernd Schroll
  • Patent number: 11624711
    Abstract: Method for the optical inspection of containers, where the containers are transported with a conveyor as a container mass flow, where the containers are each captured with an optical inspection unit as first image data, and where the first image data is evaluated with an image processing unit for contamination and/or defects on the respective container, where the first image data of several containers is overlaid to form an overlay image, and where the overlay image is evaluated for the presence of points of contamination in a beam path of the optical inspection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Alexander Hewicker
  • Patent number: 11590684
    Abstract: Method for operating an apparatus for producing plastic preforms and plastic containers, comprising at least one injection moulding machine and one blow moulding machine, wherein the plastic preforms are injection moulded within the injection moulding machine and are formed into plastic containers within the blow moulding machine and are transported from the injection moulding machine to the blow moulding machine, wherein a heating device is arranged downstream of the injection moulding machine and the injection moulding machine and the blow moulding machine are coupled to one another. According to the invention, the plastic preforms produced in the injection moulding machine are transferred directly after production to a thermal preform storage, which holds the plastic preforms at a predetermined temperature and wherein a speed and/or at least one parameter of at least one subsequent treatment device can be changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Jochen Hirdina
  • Patent number: 11577948
    Abstract: A device for treating container closures, for example for disinfecting container closures in a beverage bottling plant, includes a transport disk, rotatable about a vertical rotational axis, for transporting the container closures, and a helical closure guide, arranged above the transport disk, for laterally guiding the container closures, wherein the closure guide has a ceiling guide for guiding the container closures from above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Markus Schoenfelder, Klaus Buchhauser, Angela Grünwald, Sebastian Klepatz
  • Patent number: 11577445
    Abstract: The invention relates to a blow mould for transforming plastic parisons to form plastic containers, having a base part, a first side part and a second side part, wherein, in the assembled state of the blow mould, this base part together with the side parts form a hollow space, within which the plastic parisons can be expanded to form the plastic containers. According to the invention, at least one element of the blow mould has a first fastening section to which a first adapter element can be attached, which adapter element facilitates changing of the blow mould by means of a robot device, wherein this fastening section is formed in such a way that this adapter element can be attached releasably to this fastening section, and wherein this fastening section is formed in such a way that the blow mould can be arranged both with this adapter element and also without this adapter element on a transforming device for transforming plastic parisons to form plastic containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Florian Geltinger
  • Patent number: D985637
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: KRONES, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Wittnebel, Samuel Hosch